Potential detector



June 22 1 20. 1,590,008

J. B. WHITMORE ET AL POTENTIAL DETECTOR Filed Jan. 30, 1922 FIGfZ- FIG-.1

'INVENTOR JAMES B. WHITMORE JOHN E. FERGUSON ATTORNEY rim l oteotecl lime 22, 1923. 1 I

muses mess Qll' l -QEM BRYANT WHITHORE AI TD JOHN EBLEHG FERGUSON, @F BLQQMEFIELD, NEW JERQEY, ASlQIGNQRg TD WEHTHJGHQUQE LAMP GOMEANE, A GQBPGBATIUN @F economist,

lliisinvention relates to potential oletectors of the gas-filled! tulie type curl purticulei'ly to potential detectors of the check actor employer for testing current and igm tion conditions in internal combustion englues An object of the present invention is to provide it device of the shove mcutio iecl character having its component posts so com structed ms to facilitate the manufacture Z1 casing e oou coucluetino; stones, sud-oi sufiicient density soil thiclc mess es to resistthe passage 01 on electsostotic charge when the device is in use.

serves es the clielectric in s concleiisei, the inner moisture of the condenser losing composed of copper-foil of cyliuolricsl "loom 21ml insertecliuto the casing cue cool. the other cud of the cesiug is insulated e, us-lillecl tulie having on electl o'cle 'gs'fojectlug therefrom tin-cl in contact with the coppecl'oil.

'llie may lac ptovicleil with it cosstcictecl portion which, when the tube is in position Within the casing is disposed opposite o Wimlow in the casing, the coustciction serving to concentrate cruel intensify the oi'illioncy of the discharge increasing its visibility through tlie wimlow.

The present invention contemplates on improvement in the structure of potential detector (lEViC'ES as above briefly described snfl particularly device of the type sci'ioecl and claimed in o copemling appliestiou Serial No. 504,000, filed September 28, 1921, and assigned to the some essignee as is the present invention, v

A. clevice of this character has vast u" "lily as s detector in connection with high ten sion lines oncl especially for detecting faults in the ignition systems oat outoinolile engiues. lit-Will loe appreciated that the clemencl for an article of this kind is such as to loving it in the class of volume production and obviously when it becomes necessary to in handling produce an article in large quantities, on eic= peditious and economical assembly of the component parts of the device is essential,

Fuutliermore, such parts, when sssemlolecl.

must provide a sturdy construction,- tlie compouent ports of which must perform their respective functions equally as Well in e device upon which on comparatively lsrge amount of time has been espoused.

llei'eto'fore, the assembly of the several ports which constitute e poteutisl detector im'olvecl considerable loss of time, especially and positioning the conductor composed of e sheet coppei'i oil and fo1m- 1 ing o. port (if-the condenses. The copperioil "was usually rolled into cylindrical iiomi sud inserted into the casing in such manner that e lfidlllg=lll comuectecl "with electrodes Wltlllll the tube would melts coutect with the foil. cient in so for us practical oceistiou the device is coucemecl was it necessary the operator to 'perfofm several time-con soloing." operations; losing: necessary to handle o cvlimlere 01 meuzlrsl to foil into the ClESllQci orm. This letter erection especially, teu ed to cetei'ci sirecl increase iu. production.

The present improvement consists in pro vicliog the opeieton Wit foil time i ocsu of cosrugstecl sheets "which quickly rolled into tubules form Without ploymeut of s mouclcelo The operator tlieu thrusts a tube of foil into the cesing so as to secure one or moire the leacling-in Fig. 1 snows s sheet of foil piios to beingslioperl into e tubule? conductor for insertion into a casing; I

2 shows the foil when cent to tubolcc formoml in position for entrance into ingof e, potentiol cletectoi port of the lat tor lacing broken sway;

This coustsfuctiou although etli- Fig. 3 shows a potential detector partly in secion and with the foil in its final position; an

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

The potential detector illustrated in the drawings and to which my invention is applied, comprises an outer casing 6 having an aperture or window 7 and, a tapered end 8. A gas-filled tube 9 is suitably positioned within the casing and in the present construction one end is supported by a resilient washer 11 and the other end by the engagement of leading-in wire or wires 12 between a conductor 14 and the wall of the casing 6. The leading-in wires are connected with an electrode within the tube. The conductor 14 is driginally supplied to an operator In the form of a sheet of corrugate other metallic foil 15 which may be quickly and conveniently shaped to cylindrical or generally tubular form for insertion into the casm This corrugated or crimped conductor is not only easily adjusted for insertion into the casing but also possesses a considerable degree of resiliency; that is, after being coiled to tubular shape'it has a tendency to assume its original shape or uncoil with the result that when inserted in the casing it provides a comparatively firm contact with the wall thereof.

When assembling the several parts of the device. the gas-filled tube is previously provided with a washer 11 and inserted into the casing to approximately the position shown in Fig. 2. The tubular conductor 14 is then disposed as indicated and thrust inwardly causing the free ends of the leadingin wires 12 to assume positions parallel with the walls of the casing and between the latter and the tubular conductor or foil 14. Further movement of the conductor into the casing carries with it the gas-filled tube 9 thereby positioning the tube in proper relation to the window 7. It will be evident that the leading-in wires 12 may be conveniently guided into grooves in the conductor 14 and as the conductor 14 is moved the wires are guided into positions between the conductor and the wall of the casing 6, and the resilient property of the conductor secures the leading-in wires thereby securing the discharge tube 9 in a given position with respect to the walls of the caslng. Q

When the conductor is thus disposed within the above described relation to the other parts of the device, it will be evident that the leading-in wires are secured and thus aid in preventing longitudinal movement of the tube 9 as well as preventing lateral movement of one end of the tube.

Furthermore, the necessity of a washer, similar to the washer 11, is avoided making 4 plug 17 which may copper or the device more economical as to material and reducing the cost of assembly.

Afterthe conductor 14 has been disposed in its final position, a resilient washer 16, preferably of felt, is ositioned thereon and the casing is: closed y the insertion of a be cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The washer 16 may be made to fit the inside of the casing, the 'crimped conductor 14 providing sufficient bearing surface for the washer to prevent it from being displaced. It will be understood that the inward movement of the tube 9 causes its opposite or second electrode 18 to pass through an aperture in a metallic tip 19 to which the second electrode is preferably soldered, thus providing a metallic contact member. a

The tube 9 may be provided with one leading-in wire 12 but for practical reasons in the manufacture of the discharge tube it is preferable to provide two such leadingin wires constituting extensions from an electrode 13 within the tube 9. These double leading-in wires are utilized to give a more substantial support to the tube and a more positive connection between the conductor 14 and the electrode 13.

While we have herein shown and particularly described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details of construction illustrated, as modifications may readily be made without departpended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A potential detector comprising a casing, a discharge tube and a corrugated conductor disposed therein and leading-in wires projecting from'said tube and positioned between said conductor and a wall of said casing to prevent lateral movement of said tu e.

'2. A potential detector device comprising a casing, a discharge tube and a corrugated tubular conductor positioned therein and leading-in wires projecting from said tube and disposed between said conductor and a wall of a casing to prevent lateral movement of said tube.

3. A potential detector device comprising a casing, a discharge tube and a conductor in the form of a coil disposed within said casing and leading-in wires-projecting from said discharge tube and disposed between the outer side of said conductor and the inner wall ofsaid casing, whereby the expansive action of said coil secures said leading-in wiges and prevents lateral movement of said to e.

4. A potential detector device comprising a casing, a discharge tube and a corrugated conductor in the form of. a coil disposed within said casing and'leading-in wires proing from the spirit and scope of the apm0 jecting from said discharge tube and positioned between said conductor and the easing, whereby the expansive action of said cell secures said wires and prevents lateral movement of said tube.

5. A potential detector device comprising a casing, a discharge tube mounted within said casing, a conductor comprising e sheet of resilient material shaped in the form of a coil and leading-in wires projecting from said discharge tube and disposed between said conductor and said casing to prevent lateral movement of said discharge tube.

6. A potential detector device comprising a casing, a discharge tube mounted within seid casin leadin -in wires ro'ectin from 7 1 said tube, a conductor comprising a sheet of resilient material having grooves disposed transversely thereof, said sheet being shaped in the form of a coil for the purpose of securing said leading-in wires between the outer surface of said coil and the wall of the casing to provide an electrical contact therewith and to prevent lateral movement of said discharge tube.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names this 27 day of January 1922'.

JAMES BRYANT "WHITMURE. JQHN EBLINGFERGUSON. 

